Apparatus for setting up concrete forms



Feb. 18, 1941. F. A. HUBBELL ETAL APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP CONCRETE FORMS Filed March 30, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w A Q LL 9W W w WWX Mock/M3 Feb. 18, 1941. F. A. HUBBELL :rm.

APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP CONCRETE FORMS Filed March 30, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 18, 1941 '4 UNITED STATES 2,232,112 APPARATUS FORFSKE'TING UP CONCRETE Frederick A. Hubbell and George Braungart, Jr., Atlanta, Ga.

Application March 30, 1940, Serial No. 327,026

20 Claims.

This invention is an improvement in apparatus for setting up and positioning concrete forms, particularly for use in constructing ribbed concrete sections in multiple, for floors, walls, ceilings and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide, certain fittings, preferably of metal, for use in positioning the sideboards, soflit boards, cover boards and the like, which are usually of wood,

whereby the wooden boards may be quickly set and positioned for receiving the wet concrete, and whereby after the concrete is set, the forms may be readily and quickly wholly or partially disassembled with little or no mutilation of the wooden boards, whereby they may be used over and over again.

It is common practice in this art to use metal forms involving metal pans. However, with the present invention, while metal forms might be used, it isintended that the forms be made of ordinary wooden lumber, readily available at relatively low cost in connection with any building construction; by the use of the fittings forming the subject matter of the present invention,

it is possible to set up and position the wooden form boards quickly, accurately and strongly for receiving the wet concrete.

After a particular lot of concrete has set, the forms may be taken down without complete disassembly and quickly set up for another lot of concrete.

Also, according to this invention, both the wooden members and the fittings can be completely disassembled with little or no mutilation of the wooden boards, and such boards used over and over again in another part of the building, or on another construction job.

After the concrete work has been completed, only the fittings forming the subject matter of 9 this invention need be shipped to the next job, thereby saving the rather considerable cost of transporting metal forms and metal pans.

The fittings of the present invention comprise sideboard'engaging fittings or plates, arranged to be used in pairs. Positioned between each cooperating pair of plates is a spacer bar for bracing them apart. Suitable means are provided for controlling the effective length of the spacer bar so that the sideboard engaging plates may be fixed and held at a controllable distance apart. The spacer bars are substantially horizontal and their engagement with the sideboard engaging plates is at an angle less than a right angle, so that these plates incline to the vertical. There- 68 fore, the sideboards themselves are at a slight bevel or incline to the vertical, a pair of adja 1 cent sideboards inclining downwardly slightly toward each other, this beveling of the sideboards greatly facilitating their ready removal from the set concrete.

An important feature of thesideboard engaging plates is that the lower portions of these plates are provided withmeans for supporting the edges of a sofiit board, which soffit boards are positioned between a pair of adjacentsideboards.

In one form of the invention, the lower portions of the sideboard engaging plates are extended below and around and beyond the lower edges of the 'sideboards, to form shoulders for supporting the soffit boards. The one fitting, 15 therefore, serves for positioning both the sideboards and soflit boards.

In another form of the invention, bolt holes or the like may be provided in the lower portion of the sideboard engaging plates, these bolts serv- 2 ing to support a strip, which may be of wood, on the other side of the sideboard, and these strips form supporting shoulders for the soffit boards.

The main been thus described, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, illustrating thepresent preferred embodiments of the invention, in

which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a concrete 3 floor showing our present invention;

Figure 2 is asimilar sectional view showing a modification;

Figure 3 is an expanded perspective view further illustrating the invention and its manner of 35 use;

Figure 4 is a side view of a sideboard engaging plate or fitting;

Figure 5 is an end view of the same; and

Figure 6 is a side view of a modification.

Referring now to these drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, the sideboard engaging plate 2 is provided with a laterally extending, interiorly threaded socket 4 for engagement with a rigid one-piece spacer 5 bar 6. The sockets 4 are formed integrally with ribs 5 which arein turn preferably integral with theplate 2, for strengthening the fitting. The angle between the axis of the socket 4 and the sideboard engaging face 8 of the plate 2 is less 50 thana right angle so that this face 8 is slightly inclined to the vertical, for supporting the corresponding, sideboard at a slight bevel or angle of inclination.

The effective length of the spacer bar 6 may features of the invention having 25 be varied in any suitable manner. For example, opposite ends of the bar may be provided with right and left hand threads 6 and the sockets 4 are provided with cooperating right and left hand threads so that when the bar 6 is turned in one direction or the other, the spacer plates will be drawn together or pushed apart. In order to lock the parts in a given set position, lock nuts 1 may be provided.

In order to turn the bar 6, it may be provided with holes 9, into which a turning rod may be inserted, or a turning rod 9' may be permanently passed through and secured in transverse po-.

sition on the bar 6. The spacer bar is preferably in one piece, for strength and rigidity.

The sideboards ID are secured against the inclined faces 8 by any convenient means such as by bolts l2 passing through holes [3 in the upper part of the plates 2. Two adjacent sideboards, as. It) and I0, are inclined downwardly or (beveled toward each other; 7 I

Coming now. to an important feature of the invention, the lower part of the plates 2 is extended laterally as at M, under the lower edge of the sideboard, then upwardly as at I5, and laterally again as at [6, the portion I6 of each fitting forming a supporting shoulder for supporting one edge of a soflit board l8. An important feature here is that the verticalpart l5,is so spaced from theface of thefitting as to tightly clamp the sideboard with a wedging action, so that the sideboard is held firmly in place, and will be drawn away from, the concrete immediately upon retraction of the fittings by turning of the spacer bar 6. :The rib 5 is extended around under the shoulder l6, as shown more particularly in Figure 4, for strengthening the entire fitting. There is thus provided a series of shoulders l6 for supporting-the sofiitboards, as shown more particularly in Figure 3. In the modification shown in Figure 2, the lower portion of the sideboard engaging plates is provided with supporting bolts 20, which pass through and support strips 22, which strips, .in cooperation with corresponding strips 22'"'supported by the adjoining fitting, support soffit boards l8.

In use, the sideboards [0 are set up as shown in Figure 3 and suitable bearing strips 24 for-the cover plate 26 are nailed or otherwise secured to the sideboards. The cover plate 26 may conveniently be made of a number of wooden boards securedto cleats 28, the cleats 28 restingon the bearing strips 24, while the outer longitudinal edges of the cover plate rest on the upper edges of the sideboards, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The sideboards may also be provided with supporting cleats 30 for supporting endcaps 32.

Where spans of such length as to require the use of an intermediate transversely extending header or bridging joist, are tobe formed, the end caps-32 form the ends of such intermediate header or joist, the-bottom of such header or joist being formedby placing a sofiit board alongside-and at right angles to, and between, a pair of adjacent end caps 32. v

In the modification shown in Figure 6, the upper'part of the side plates, as shown in-either Figure 1 or Figure 2, may be provided with a laterally extending shoulder or shelf 34, for use in supporting the bearing strips 24. This shoulder, or, shelf furthermore may be provided with an upturnedflange 36, adapted to extend up and around the. bearing. strip. Strengthening and stiffening ribs 5', analogous to the ribs 5.,'may be could be omitted, and shoulders 34 would be at a height to support the cleats 28, or if cleats were not used, the shoulders would be about flush with the top edges of the sideboards I0, to support the cover 26 directly. Where it is desired to retain the sideboards 24, they would rest on the shoulders 34, and the flange 36 would be retained, and its top edge would support the cleats 28, or the sideboards directly, as desired.

One of the important advantages of the present invention'is that the assembly of the sideboards, set on'edge in nearly a vertical position, and'spaced apart at frequent intervals by rigid spacer bars "and fittings firmly secured to the sideboards, the lower edges of the sideboards being wedged into the fittings, provides a strong and very rigid construction whereby the rigid assembly acts largely as its own support. The inherent stiffening effect of the sideboards set on edge is very greatly increased on account of the frequent rigid support of the sideboards against any lateral bending either inwardly or outwardly, by the fittings and spacer bars. The inherent strength and rigidity of this construction substantially reduces the amount and cost of supporting false-work, internal sticking and propping. Where less rigid forms are used, as with metal pans, for example, such forms have very little inherent rigidity and require a considerable amount 'of supporting false-work and propping.

According to this invention, therefore, substantial economies are eliected, first, because of the elimination of a considerable am'ountof supporting false-work, and, second, because the assembly of sideboards, fittings and spacer bars provides a strong, rigid unit which may be taken down and handled asa 'unitfrom one job to the nextwith very little necessity for disassembly and'reassembly,

In settingup the forms according to the present invention, which are particularly for making concrete floors, ceilings and the like, the usual shoring, bracing and the like is, of course, provided, as is well understood in the art, for supporting the forms during the setting up of the forms and the, pouring of the concrete. However, as already pointed out, the amount of shoring, bracing and the like is substantially reduced according to the present invention. Before the concrete is poured, any metallic reinforcements, pipes, etc., are placed in position in the usual way.

The sideboards, coverplate and end caps are preferably made of oiled wood, as is customary, for facilitating their removal from the concrete after it has set.

There is thus provided, according to this invention, apparatus by theuse of which concrete forms may be quickly and accurately set up, and which, after the concrete has set, may be very readily removed. In taking down the forms, where they are to be used in another place on the same job, a pair of sideboards, joined together by a number-of spacer. bars and their cooperating fittings, may be removed as a unit withall) out disassembly and carried, usually by two or four men, to another place on the same job and quickly set up again. After a particular building is completed, the fittings of the present invention may be removed from the Sideboards and the fittings only shipped to another job, where new forms may be quickly and accurately set up, using ordinary lumber, thereby avoiding shipping any considerable amount of material, as is necessary where metallic pans and thelike are used.

While we have illustrated the present preferred embodiments of our invention in some detail, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to these details, but may be carried out in other ways.

We claim as our invention:

1. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms including a sideboard, comprising a sideboard engaging plate, means for detachably securing said plate to said sideboard, spacer bar engaging means carried by and projecting laterally from one side of said plate, and means carried by the lower portion of said plate and projecting from the other side of said plate, for supporting the edge of a soifit board.

Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms including a sideboard, comprising a sideboard engaging plate, means for detachably securing said plate .to said sideboard, spacer bar engaging means carried by and projecting laterally from one side of said plate at an angle less than a right angle, and means carried by the lower portion of said plate and projecting from the other side of said plate, for supporting the edge of asofiit board.

3. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a side board engaging plate, a threaded socket for a spacer bar carried by and projecting laterally from one side of said plate, and means carried by the lower portion of said plate and projecting from the other side of said plate, for supporting the edge of a sofiit board.

4. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a sideboard engaging plate, a threaded socket for a spacer bar carried by and projecting laterally from one side of said plate at an angle less than a right angle, and means carried by the lower portion of said plate and projecting from the other side of said plate, for supporting the edge of a sofiit board.

5. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms including a sideboard, comprising a sideboard engaging plate, means for detachably securing said plate to said sideboard, spacer bar engaging means, projecting from one side of said plate, and a shoulder projecting from the lower portion and opposite side of said plate, for supporting the edge of a soffit board.

6. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms including a sideboard, comprising a sideboard engaging plate, means for detachably securing said plate to said sideboard, spacer bar engaging means, projecting from one side of said plate, at an angle less than a right angle, and a shoulder projecting from the lower portion and opposite side of said plate, for supporting the edge of a sofiit board.

7. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a sideboard engaging plate, a threaded socket for a spacer bar, projecting from one side of said plate, and a shoulder projecting from the lower portion and opposite side of said plate, for supporting the edge of a soffit board.

8. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a sideboard engaging plate, a

threaded socket fora'spacer' bar, projecting from one sideof said plate, at an angle less than a right angle, and a shoulder projecting from the lower portion and opposite side of said plate, for supporting the edge of a sofiit board.

9. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms including a sideboard, comprising a sideboard engaging plate, means for detachably secur ing said plate to said sideboard, spaced bar engaging means projecting from one side of said plate, and shoulder means, projecting from the other side and lower portion of said plate, around and beyond the lower edge of the sideboard, for forming a support for the edge of a soffit board.

10. Apparatus for'use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a sideboard engaging plate, a threaded socket for a spacer bar projecting from one side of said plate, at an angle less than a right angle, and shoulder means, projecting from the other side and lower portion of said plate, around and beyond the lower edge of the side board, for forming a support for the edge of a soflit board.

11. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a sideboard engaging plate, spacer bar engaging means projecting from one side of said plate, at an angle less than a right angle, and means, including a bolt, passing through the lower part of the plate, for forming a support for a soflit board on the other side of said plate.

12. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms including sideboards, comprising a pair of sideboard engaging fittings means for detachably securing each fitting to a sideboard, means, carried by the lower portions of said fittings, for supporting the edges of sofiit boards, and a rigid spacer bar, positioned between and engaged with said fittings, for bracing them apart.

13. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a pair of sideboard engaging fittings, means, carried by the lower portions of said fittings, for supporting the edges of soflit boards, and rigid spacer means, including cooperating elements for varying the effective length of the spacer means, positioned between and engaged with said fittings, for spacing the sideboards a controllable distance apart.

14. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a pair of sideboard engaging fittings, means, carried by the lower portions of said fittings, for supporting the edges of soifit boards, a spacer bar engaged with said fittings for bracing them apart, and means for varying the effective length of said spacer bar.

15. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a pair of sideboard engaging fittings, means, carried by the lower portions of said fittings, for supporting the edges of soilit boards, a rigid spacer bar, and threaded stud and socket means cooperating with the spacer bar and the fittings, for controlling the spacing between the sideboards.

16. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a pair of sideboard engaging fittings, means, carried by the lower portions of said fittings, for supporting the edges of soffit boards, a rigid spacer bar, and threaded stud and socket means, including a lock nut, cooperating with the spacer bar and the fittings, for controlling the spacing between the sideboards.

17. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a pair of sideboard engaging plates, each provided with a U-shaped extension for receiving an edge of a sideboard, threaded sockets carried thereby, and a spacer bar engageable with said sockets for spacing the sideboards a controllable distance apart, in positions inclined to the vertical.

18. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a pair of sideboard engaging plates, means carried by said plates for supporting the edges of soffit boards, threaded sockets carried by said plates, and a spacer bar, the ends of which are threaded, for engagement in said threaded sockets, for spacing the said plates and the sideboards a controllable distance apart, in positions inclined to the vertical.

19. Apparatus for use in positioning concrete forms, comprising a pair of sideboard engaging plates, means carried by said plates for supporting the edges of soflit boards, threaded sockets carried by said plates, a spacer bar, the ends of which are threaded, for engagement in said threaded sockets, for spacing the said plates and the sideboards a controllable distance apart, in positions inclined to the vertical, and lock nut means cooperating with the spacer bar, for looksaid engaging means, means, including a bolt carried by the lower part of each of said fittings and projecting to the other side of each fitting, for supporting the edges of soflit boards, and means cooperating with the spacer bar for holding the Sideboards a controllable distance apart.

FREDERICK A. HUBBELL. GEORGE BRAUNGART, JR. 

